RICHARD DOW

DOW--Richard (Rick). Richard (Rick) was born in Cambridge, Mass., to Richard A. Dow Sr. and Elisabeth Sagendorph Dow. He grew up in Dover, Mass., attended Brooks School, in North Andover, Mass., and graduated from Needham High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in English literature and letters from University of Pennsylvania in 1964. He trained as a licensed clinical social worker at Family Therapy Institute of Westchester (NY). After college, Dow moved to New York City to become an educator, teaching briefly in the public school system. However, he quickly hit success as a model, including as the Aramis (fragrance) Man in 1972. He worked for the next 20 years in modeling, dance, TV, film and theatre, working with notables including Sam Shephard, Olympia Dukakis, Alvin Ailey and Jerome Robbins. In his early 40s, Dow trained to become a licensed social worker and begin work as a family therapist. He found parallels between the self-discovery and risk-taking required for acting roles and the compassion and empathy of being a therapist. He loved working with families and remained connected with former clients up until his passing. Dow is survived by his wife, Maggie Flanigan, and beloved dog Dixie; sisters Pam Brown of Kittery, Maine; Bettyna Donelson of Ashburnham, Mass., and six nieces. He is predeceased by his sister Gretchen Dow Simpson, of Providence, RI, who died in April. He will be buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery. Services are in the care of the Waring-Sullivan Home at Dartmouth, 230 Russells Mills Rd., Dartmouth, MA 02748. To leave a note of condolence: www.waring-sullivan.com